Marvel on TV: The 80's

With both S.H.I.E.L.D. and some new animated programming in the form of Hulk: Agents of S.M.A.S.H. and Avengers Assemble on the horizon; I decided to look back at Marvel on TV. This article covers the laughs, the insanity, and the cheesy dialogue that is the Marvel Action Universe. A legendary(?) block of Marvel animated programming that ran throughout the 80's.

Follow TheRedHood:

By TheRedHood - 3/17/2013

With Marvel testing the waters of animation in the 60's and live-action in the 70's; when the 80's rolled around Marvel stopped adapting its major heroes to TV; it did start up Marvel Productions. Productions has been renamed and traded a lot throughout its time but has been the prodction studio behind many of Marvel's animated content throughout the 80's and 90's. That said, without further ado, the 80's!

Spider-Man (1981-1982)

While Spider-Man was the most popular Marvel cartoon in the 60's; the 70's were rough to Spidey with a string of terribly inaccurate portrayals. Spider-Man however rebounded in 1981 in two ways: with the premiere of Spider-Man, and the premiere of Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends.

Spider-Man was not as popular as Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends but it certainly had more Marvel Villains then previous Spider-Man adaptions. It only lasted one season

Spider-Man And His Amazing Friends (1981-1983)

Spider-Man, Iceman, and Firestar. Firestar, like Agent Coulson, was created in a media adaption but eventually was added to continuity.

The show ran for three seasons; well the second season was only three episodes! Still, it certainly handled cameos well. The three characters are all college students and fight crime on the side. A decent effort, if not for the cheesiness of it all it'd probably be more well regarded.

The Incredible Hulk (1982-1983)

The Incredible Hulk live-action series was going so well; and to name the cartoon the same name made sense. While the live-action show was good; it wasn't as faithful to the comic as it could've been. The cartoon allowed the more fantastical elements to return.

Sadly, like Spider-Man (81') it was cancelled only after one season.

Pryde Of The X-Men (1989)

This show, for me is a bit unfairly treated. It got many aspects of the X-Men wrong including having Emma Frost side with Magneto, or Wolverine having an Australian accent. Still, it's one of the most beautifully drawn Marvel animated shows. It's style is uniquely it's own and while it got a lot wrong it's still considered by me as one of the best animated Marvel efforts in the 80's.

Solarman

A failed attempt at bringing a character into the mainstay. Solarman was a flop, but its pilot lives on over at Youtube.

What do you guys think of Marvel's TV efforts in the 80's? You know where to rant. In the meantime, continue on to the other decades.

Marvel on TV: The 60's
Marvel on TV: The 70's
Marvel on TV: The 90's
Marvel on TV: The 00's

DISCLAIMER: This article was submitted by a volunteer contributor who has agreed to our code of conduct. ComicBookMovie.com is protected from liability under "safe harbor" provisions and will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. For expeditious removal, contact us HERE.

6 Comments

	unknownfacts - 3/18/2013, 12:28 PM Login to report abuse 80's cartoons always good for a few laughs.
	2Challa - 3/18/2013, 2:48 PM Login to report abuse That X-men cartoon is classic but I always wondered why Wolverine was Australian?
	Superguy15 - 3/18/2013, 5:09 PM Login to report abuse The 80's gave us some great shows...
	2Challa - 3/18/2013, 11:09 PM Login to report abuse TheRedHood I never knew that... and knowing is half the battle.
	sirbonesalot - 3/19/2013, 3:23 AM Login to report abuse after watching the 90's Spider-Man as a kid the old ones were god awful.
	TerminalVoyd - 3/19/2013, 6:23 AM Login to report abuse Ah, memories. While a lot of the 80's Hulk wasn't particularly note worthy and particularly silly in regard to Banner's clothes becoming whole when the Hulk reverted back into Banner, it had one hell of an opening theme. I'd always wished they'd incorporate it somehow into a cinematic score for Hulk. And while Wolverine as an Australian was bizarre, Emma as part of the Brotherhood isn't a complete mistake. It's a cartoon, so they essentially condensed the "bad guys" into an easy to package to kids concept. As Emma was very much an adversary of the X-Men during her time with the Hellfire Club, it's understandable that they'd just lump all the villains together (particularly at that point, where the writing wasn't particularly complex).

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.